Cycling:: Wilson-Haffenden wins first elite medal, Duffy sends Olympic message at nationals

Felicity Wilson-Haffenden defied a recent procedure on her collarbone to win her first elite level medal at the national track championships.

Tasmanian cyclists Felicity Wilson-Haffenden and Josh Duffy both won medals at last week’s national track cycling championships. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Hobart cycling sensation Felicity Wilson-Haffenden defied a recent procedure to her collarbone to claim her first elite level national title at last week’s national track cycling championships.

The reigning junior world time trial champion has focused more on the road thus far, but showed her versatility by being crowned the 3000-metre women’s individual pursuit champion in Brisbane.

The 18-year-old finished third and claimed the bronze medal, but clinched the national title given the gold medal race was an all-Ireland affair.

Wilson-Haffenden, who has recently relocated to Launceston, will represent Australia at the elite level at a Nations Cup event in Hong Kong from March 15.

After the win the teenager revealed she had a plate inserted in her collarbone which affected her preparation.

“This was my first time riding a 3000m IP in training or in competition, so it was a really big unknown,” she told AusCycling.

“My hope was to ride closer to 3:25, and it didn’t quite come through. And I think that is the back-end, and that’s just something that’ll come with more training.

“Coming off road worlds, it was a huge rollercoaster for me. There were big highs and there were also some big lows.

“I’ve actually gone a bit slower than I would have liked to. And four weeks ago I had my collarbone fixed up, had a plate in there which needed a little bit of touching up.

“It’s actually been a rocky summer and probably not what I’d hoped for, but (there’s been) so much learning.”

Launceston’s Josh Duffy has also endured his fair share of setbacks recently through illness.

But he showed signs his Olympic dream is possible after winning bronze in the scratch race, and a fourth place in the 40km points race.

In the lead-up to the championships, Duffy told media of his battles to get back to full fitness.

“I’ve had quite a rough few months and missed out on the Adelaide Nations Cup,” he said.

“I just had a sickness which lingered for a long time, I just never got better for a couple of months.

“It was just the flu to start with. It’s been a bit of a trek back to fitness, but I think I’m back there now.

“It always is a struggle to come back from that kind of thing. Getting back on the bike and not quite being where you were is quite difficult.

“Watching the team train at camps, not being a part of that has been the toughest thing.”

Duffy said the competition for spots on national teams, especially in an Olympic year, can get “a bit tense”.

But he said the training squad in Adelaide have built a culture of building a friendly rivalry.

“While there’s competition for us to get those spots, if you’re in you know they’ve got your back and you’ve got there’s,” he said.

“We’ve really worked on that culture because a lot of us are close friends.

“We’re stuck on this side of the globe for half the year, so a lot of the competition comes from within.”